Sending a sensor node a request for sensor data that identifies another node to process the data

ABSTRACT

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and computer program code, configured to cause the apparatus to at least transmit to a sensor node a request for processed sensor data, the request comprising an identity of a second node capable of processing sensor data, and receive a message enabling access to the processed sensor data, wherein the second node is comprised in the same peer network as the apparatus. The apparatus may also be configured to receive from the second node an indication that the second node has data processing capability it is willing to provide.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally processing sensor data innetworked, peer-to-peer or cloud computing settings.

BACKGROUND

Automated sensing can be employed to produce a large amount of data withlittle or no human intervention. Sometimes, automated sensing can beemployed in environments where humans cannot readily work, for exampleinside nuclear reactors, in space or along the wings of commercialpassenger aircraft. Alternatively automated sensing may be employed togenerate sensing data for providing rich media services to human users.An automated sensing unit may be termed a sensor, wherein a sensor maybe capable of sensing a physical property. A sensor may further becapable of communicating its sensed data, periodically or as acontinuous sensor data stream.

Sensor networks comprise a plurality of sensors, or sensor nodes, whichmay be connected to each other and/or a central node by means ofwireless or wired communication links. A sensor network may be employedto sense temperature, pressure or other physical properties or mediainformation. For example, sensors may be installed in a city centre orshopping outlet to produce realtime or semi-realtime video information.

Sensors comprised in sensor networks may be powered by batteries, oralternatively by a stable power supply. Where batteries are used,replacing the batteries becomes necessary to prevent sensor data fromceasing when the batteries run out. Power requirements of sensors mayvary, in certain applications sensors can be designed to consume verylittle power by miniaturization and employing low-power communication.

In some sensor networks, packet-switched communications are used torelay sensor data from sensors. In networks with relatively few sensors,circuit-switched communications may be employed. An example of thelatter are closed-circuit television monitoring systems, where a limitednumber of cameras produce circuit-switched television monitoring datawhich may be observed in monitors in a local or remote guard post.

SUMMARY

Various aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus, comprising at least one processor, at least one memoryincluding computer program code, the at least one memory and thecomputer program code configured to, with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus to at least transmit to a sensor node a request forprocessed sensor data, the request comprising an identity of a secondnode capable of processing sensor data, and receive a message enablingaccess to the processed sensor data, wherein the second node iscomprised in the same peer network as the apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus, comprising a receiver configured to receive sensor data,at least one processing core configured to associate at least one dataprocessing operation with the sensor data, the at least one processingcore being configured to cause a message to be transmitted to a firstdevice, the message comprising an identifier of at least one of the atleast one data processing operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method, comprising receiving sensor data, associating at least onedata processing operation with the sensor data, causing a message to betransmitted to a first device, the message comprising an identifier ofat least one of the at least one data processing operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method, comprising transmitting to a sensor node a request forprocessed sensor data, the request comprising an identity of a secondnode capable of processing sensor data, and receiving a message enablingaccess to the processed sensor data, wherein the second node iscomprised in the same peer network as the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the presentinvention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system capable of supporting at least someembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus such as, for example,a mobile terminal comprised in a mobile cloud, in accordance with anexample embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus such as, for example, a sensor node inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a first flowchart illustrating operations in accordance withan example embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a second flowchart illustrating operations in accordance withan example embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example embodiment of the present invention and its potentialadvantages are understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 of thedrawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system capable of supporting at least someembodiments of the invention. Illustrated in FIG. 1 are sensor network101, mobile cloud 102 and cellular base station 103. Sensor network 101may comprise at least one sensor node, in FIG. 1 three sensor nodes 101a, 101 b and 101 c are illustrated. The sensor nodes are connected toeach other with a sensor interconnect network 101N. Sensor node 101 a isillustrated as being connected via sensor interconnect network 101N withfurther nodes, which are not illustrated in FIG. 1. Such further nodesmay comprise, for example, further sensor nodes or a central server thatis configured to manage sensor network 101 and/or receive sensor datatherefrom. Sensor nodes 101 a, 101 b and 101 c may be furnished withsensor elements to produce sensor data representing at least onephysical property of the surroundings of the sensor. For example, asensor may provide an estimate of prevailing atmospheric pressure at aninterval of five seconds. Another sensor may produce a continuous videofeed at a preconfigured or dynamically configurable resolution, forexample. Together the sensor network may provide for informationrelating to, for example, a density of pedestrian traffic and acongestion level of a local data network.

Mobile cloud, which may be referred to also as mobile peer-to-peernetwork, 102, is illustrated as comprising three mobiles 102 a, 102 band 102 c. The mobiles may comprise cellular mobile telephones, laptopcomputers, tablet computers, personal digital assistant, PDA, devices orother electronic devices with wired and/or wireless communicationcapability. Mobile 102 c is illustrated as being in wirelesscommunication with base station 103 via wireless link 23 c. Base station103 may be configured to operate in accordance with a cellular radioaccess technology, such as long term evolution, LTE, wideband codedivision multiple access, WCDMA, or another technology.

Base station 103 may control a cell operating in accordance with thetechnology, and wireless link 23 c may operate in accordance with thetechnology. Wireless link 23 c may comprise an uplink for conveyinginformation from mobile 102 c to base station 103, and a downlink forconveying information from base station 103 to mobile 102 c. A user ofmobile 102 c may access services of the cellular network where basestation 103 is comprise in, via wireless link 23 c. In other words, theuser may engage in cellular telephony, web browsing and/or othercellular services via wireless link 23 c and base station 103. Basestation 103 is operably connected, via connection 1034, to a basestation controller node or another cellular network node, which are notillustrated in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, such as for example in LTEsystems, base station 103 may be connected to another base station.

In the mobile cloud, mobile 102 c is illustrated as being incommunication with mobile 102 b via wireless connection 22 bc. Wirelessconnection 22 bc may operate in accordance with a different wirelesscommunication technology than wireless connection 23 c. For example,wireless connection 22 bc may operate in accordance with the wirelesslocal area network, WLAN, Bluetooth, or another technology. In someembodiments, wireless connection 22 bc operates using a same or adifferent cellular radio technology as wireless connection 23 c.

The mobile cloud may be maintained using wireless connections such aswireless connection 22 bc between mobiles comprised in the mobile cloud.Each mobile comprised in the mobile cloud may maintain a data structurecomprising information relating to the mobile cloud. Informationrelating to the mobile cloud may comprise, for example, identities andcapabilities of mobiles comprised in the cloud, information relating toradio paths between pairs of mobiles comprised in the mobile cloud anduser preferences of mobiles comprised in the mobile cloud. Theinformation, mobile cloud and wireless connections interconnecting themobiles in the mobile cloud may together enable virtualization of atleast some capabilities of mobiles 102 a, 102 b and 103 c. Virtualizedcapabilities may be indicated as available to other mobiles in thecloud, for example where mobile 102 b is temporarily outside cellularcoverage of base station 103, it may access the cellular communicationcapability of mobile 102 c to send a message using the cellular network,wherein the message is transferred via wireless connections 22 bc and 23c, and connection 1034. In this case, mobile 102 c may advertise avirtualized active cellular communication capability in the mobilecloud, enabling mobile 102 b to use it.

Alternatively to each mobile storing the information relating to themobile cloud, at least one of the mobiles may at least in part rely onat least one further mobile comprised in the mobile cloud to store theinformation relating to the mobile cloud. For example, the mobile cloudmay designate one mobile as a lead node responsible for maintaining theinformation relating to the mobile cloud. In this example, when othermobiles need the information relating to the mobile cloud, they may beconfigured to request the relevant part, or all, of the informationrelating to the mobile cloud from the designated lead node.

Although only one wireless link 22 bc is illustrated connecting mobilescomprised in mobile cloud 102, it is understood that mobiles comprisedin the cloud may be capable of communicating with each other in general,using wireless links similar to wireless link 22 bc. Each mobile may notbe capable of establishing a direct wireless link with each and everyother mobile in the mobile cloud, but the mobile cloud may nonethelessbe communicably bound in the sense that each mobile comprised in themobile cloud may be capable of communicating with each other mobilecomprised in the mobile cloud when messages are routed within the mobilecloud indirectly via mobiles comprised in the cloud.

In FIG. 1, wireless links 12 ba, 12 bc and 12 cb connect sensor nodescomprised in sensor network 101 to mobiles comprised in the mobile cloud102. In detail, wireless link 12 ba connects sensor node 101 b to mobile102 a, wireless link 12 bc connects sensor node 101 b to mobile 102 cand wireless link 12 cb connects sensor node 101 c to mobile 102 b.Wireless links 12 ba, 12 bc and 12 cb may be based on the same, ordifferent, radio access technologies than links, such as wireless link22 bc, within mobile cloud 102, and links, such as wireless link 23 c,between mobiles and cellular base stations. One example of a technologywireless links 12 ba, 12 bc and 12 bc may act in accordance with is nearfield communication, NFC. Another example is the Wibree low-powercommunication technology.

Mobile 102 a, for example, may request sensor data from sensor node 101b over wireless link 12 ba. In detail, mobile 102 a may transmit arequest message to sensor node 101 b over wireless link 12 ba.Responsively, sensor node 101 b may be configured to provide therequested sensor data, either over wireless link 12 ba or bytransmitting over wireless link 12 ba information enabling mobile 102 ato access the requested sensor data. For example, where sensor node 101b has uploaded sensor data to a server node using sensor interconnectnetwork 101N, sensor node 101 b may provide mobile 102 a informationenabling mobile 102 a to access the sensor data from the server node.Such information may comprise an address of the server node and,optionally, credentials configured to allow access for mobile 102 a tothe requested sensor data, for example. The information may also oralternatively comprise a data identifier identifying a specific set ofsensor data stored in the server node from among a plurality of sensordata sets stored in the server node.

Mobile 102 a may request sensor data from sensor node 101 b overwireless link 12 ba even when the requested sensor data has not beensensed by sensor 101 b. In this case, sensor network 101 may communicateusing the sensor interconnect network 101N to discover, if a sensor iscomprised in sensor network 101 that is capable of providing therequested sensor data. Responsive to such a sensor node beingidentified, the identified sensor node may provide the requested sensordata, or information enabling access to it, to mobile 102 a either viasensor interconnect 101N, sensor node 101 b and wireless link 12 ba, orby opening a new, direct wireless link to mobile 102 a. In someembodiments, the identified sensor node may be configured to provide therequested sensor data, or information enabling access to it, to anymobile comprised in mobile cloud 102. The requested sensor data, orinformation enabling access to it, can then be provided to mobile 102 afrom the mobile receiving the data, or information enabling access toit, by communication internal to mobile cloud 102.

Mobile 102 a may be configured to request sensor data in processed formfrom sensor node 101 b. As a first example, where mobile 102 a iscapable of displaying only a certain, first resolution of video feed toa user, mobile 102 a may be configured to request a video feed at thefirst resolution. If sensor node 101 b provides a video feed at adifferent resolution, the raw sensor data of sensor node 101 b may needto be processed, or re-sampled, to conform to the requested format. Asecond example of processing is processing where sampled audio data isspeech-recognized into text and, optionally, translated from a firstlanguage to a second language. Transferring the contents of sampledspeech in text form may consume substantially less communicationresources than transferring the sampled speech in an audio format. Inthis example, the raw sensor data is an audio feed, and processed sensordata is text conveying the meaning of what is spoken in the audio feed.A third example of processing is processing where more than one unit orfeed of raw, or unprocessed, sensor data is fused to provide compoundsensor data comprising information stemming from more than one physicalproperty and/or sensor node.

Processing of sensor data may take place in a sensor node, but dependingon the type of processing and the design of the sensor node concerned,the processing may not be possible. In some embodiments, sensor networkssuch as sensor network 101 comprise sensor nodes designed for highvolumes of shipped products, wherein the individual sensor nodes haveonly limited processing and other capabilities. Therefore, theprocessing, storage and communication capabilities of sensor nodes 101a, 101 b and 101 c may be limited.

Instead of a sensor node, processing of sensor data may take place in aserver node storing the sensor data or in a mobile requesting theprocessed sensor data, such as for example mobile 102 a. For example,mobile 102 a may request and receive the sensor data, or access to thesensor data, and subsequent to receiving it, process the sensor datalocally to obtain processed sensor data. In some embodiments, mobile 102a may request the server node to process sensor data before providing itto mobile 102 a.

In some embodiments, a mobile 102 a requesting processed sensor data isconfigured to use virtualized capabilities in the mobile cloud toperform processing of sensor data to produce the processed sensor data.For example, where mobile 102 a knows from participating in the mobilecloud that mobile 102 b has a first capability needed for theprocessing, it may direct the processing of sensor data from, forexample, sensor node 101 b to occur in mobile 102 b. The directing maycomprise that mobile 102 a transmits a request to sensor node 101 b thatidentifies mobile 102 b as a node that is to perform the processing. Therequest may comprise an identifier or descriptor allowing sensor node101 b and/or mobile 102 b to deduce which processing operation, oroperations, are to be performed on the sensor data. Responsive toreceiving such a request, sensor node 101 b may be configured to enableaccess to the sensor data for mobile 102 b. Enabling in this context maycomprise transmitting, or causing to be transmitted, the sensor data tomobile 102 b, or providing mobile 102 b with information allowing mobile102 b to access the sensor data in a server node, for example. Suchinformation has been described above. Responsive to being enabled bysensor node 101 b to access the sensor data, and responsive to receivingthe identifier or descriptor, mobile 102 b may be configured to accessthe sensor data and perform the processing on the sensor data to obtainprocessed sensor data. The processed sensor data may subsequently beprovided to the requesting mobile 102 a either by transmitting it,causing it to be transmitted or by providing mobile 102 a withinformation enabling mobile 102 a to access it. In some embodiments, theidentifier or descriptor may be provided from mobile 102 a to mobile 102b by signaling internal to the mobile cloud, in other words it needn'tbe routed via the sensor node.

In some embodiments, a mobile 102 a requesting processed sensor data isconfigured to use more than one virtualized capability in the mobilecloud to perform processing of sensor data to produce the processedsensor data. In general, the requesting mobile may identify frominformation relating to the mobile cloud, which mobiles in the mobilecloud have capabilities that may be applied to sensor data. Therequesting mobile may define a sequence of processing actions, such thatwhen the processing actions comprised in the sequence are performed onsensor data in order, the correct kind of processed sensor data isproduced as an output from the last processing action in the sequence.To trigger execution of the sequence, the requesting mobile may prompt asensor node to enable a first mobile in the mobile cloud to access thesensor data, and the requesting mobile may request the first mobile toperform at least the first processing action in the sequence. The firstmobile in this example is a mobile that advertises in the mobile cloud acapability corresponding to the first processing action in the sequence.Responsive to completion of the last processing action in the sequencethat the first mobile is willing or able to provide, the processing ofthe sensor data is delegated to a second mobile in the cloud, whereinthe second mobile is one that advertises in the mobile cloud acapability corresponding to a processing action that is next in sequenceto the last one performed by the first mobile. Delegating may compriseenabling access to the partly processed sensor data, and providing arequest to perform at least the next processing action in the sequence.Enabling access to the data may comprise transmitting the data, causingthe data to be transmitted or providing information enabling the secondmobile to access the data. The sequence of processing actions isperformed on the sensor data in this fashion, with processing beingdelegated to mobiles comprised in the mobile cloud in sequence, untilthe completely processed sensor data is made available to the requestingmobile, in other words the requesting mobile is enabled to access it.

Delegating processing from a first mobile to a next mobile may bedirected by the requesting mobile 102 a, such that once the first mobilecompletes its processing of the sensor data, it informs mobile 102 athat it is ready, responsive to which mobile 102 a may transmit arequest to the next mobile to start performing at least the nextprocessing action in the sequence on the partly processed sensor data.Likewise, once the next mobile is ready, it may inform the requestingmobile which would then transmit a request for processing to asubsequent mobile. Alternatively, the first mobile may pass to the nextmobile a description of the sequence and an indication of the phase inwhich the processing is in the sequence following completion ofprocessing in the first mobile. In this latter alternative, therequesting mobile 102 a may have provided the description of thesequence to the first mobile when initiating the processing, eitherdirectly or via a sensor node, with an explicit or implicit indicationthat the processing is to commence from the first processing action inthe sequence. In some embodiments, there is no indication of the phasein which the processing is in the sequence, but each mobile will removefrom the description of the sequence indications of processing actionsthey have performed, such that the next mobile can always start from thebeginning of the description of the sequence. In the description of thesequence, each processing action comprised in the sequence may beassociated with an identity of a mobile that is to perform theprocessing action. The description of the sequence may also compriseinformation enabling access to the sensor data. Alternatively, eachmobile participating in the processing may be configured to pass on thesensor data, in partially processed form, to the next mobile in thesequence.

An example of a virtualized capability is translation of text, wherein amobile with access to base station 103, for example, advertises in themobile cloud that it is capable of translating text. Responsive to beingdelegated a task to translate text, the mobile may be configured totransmit the text to be translated via base station 103 to a translatingservice in the Internet, and responsive to receiving translated textfrom the translating service, the mobile may provide the translated textto a requesting mobile, or a next mobile in a processing sequence.

Using embodiments of the invention, a mobile comprised in a mobile cloudmay be made capable of obtaining sensor data from a sensor networkcomprising low-capability sensor nodes, such that the sensor data isobtained in processed form despite low capabilities of sensor nodes.Since processing may be provided by members of the mobile cloud, arequesting mobile may be able to request more varied kinds of processingthe larger the mobile cloud is. Since at least one mobile will bepresent to request processed sensor data, the system overall will haveneeded processing capability only when needed, in other words when therequesting mobile, which may also be a processing mobile, is present.Thus benefits of the invention are obtained from interaction betweenless capable sensor nodes and more capable mobile nodes.

In general, there is provided a first apparatus, such as for example asensor node or a control device for inclusion in a sensor node, tocontrol the functioning of the sensor node. A control device maycomprise, for example, a processor or integrated circuit configured toat least participate in controlling the functioning of the firstapparatus.

The first apparatus may comprise a receiver configured to receive sensordata. Where the first apparatus is a control device, the receiver may becomprised as an input device comprised in the control device, such asfor example a serial port pin and associated serial port, or a parallelport, to enable the control device to receive information from, forexample, a sensor element comprised in a sensor node. The informationmay be conveyable from the sensor element to the input device of thecontrol device via electrical leads internal to a sensor node, forexample. Where the first apparatus is a sensor node, receiving sensordata may similarly comprise receiving sensor data from a sensor elementinternally in the sensor node.

The first apparatus may comprise at least one processing core configuredto associate at least one data processing operation with the sensordata. The data processing operation may comprise an operation to atleast in part convert sensor data to processed sensor data, for exampleto reduce the size of the sensor data or to process the sensor data intoa form usable for multimedia. The at least one processing core may beconfigured to cause a message to be transmitted to a first device, themessage comprising an identifier of at least one of the at least onedata processing operation. The first device may comprise, for example, amobile device comprised in a mobile cloud.

In some embodiments, the first apparatus comprises at least one sensorelement configured to produce the sensor data by physical measurementand to provide it to the receiver internally in the apparatus. Physicalmeasurement may comprise measurement of a physical property such asmagnetic field strength, temperature, pressure or particle flux, forexample. Physical measurement may also or alternatively comprise captureof video, audio or generally media data. Physical measurement mayprovide for describing properties of the real world usingrepresentations in digital format.

In some embodiments, the first apparatus is configured to participate asa sensor node in a sensor network. Participating in a sensor network maycomprise communicating with at least one further sensor node via acommunication channel.

In some embodiments, the message enables access to at least part of thesensor data and comprises an implicit or explicit request to apply theat least one of the at least one data processing operation to the sensordata. Enabling access may comprise that the message comprises the atleast part of the sensor data, or alternatively that the messagecomprises information enabling access to the at least part of the sensordata. The information enabling access may comprise, for example, anaddress and, optionally, access credentials needed to access the atleast part of the sensor data in a network location. An implicit requestmay comprise that the message comprises the identifier, wherein thefirst apparatus knows that the first device will consider the identifieras a request to perform the data processing operation identified by theidentifier.

In some embodiments, the message is transmitted to the first device atleast in part responsive to a second message being received from asecond device. The second message may comprise an identifier of the atleast one data processing operation. The second message may comprise anidentifier of the first device. The second message may be a requestmessage. In some embodiments, the message is transmitted to the firstdevice at least in part responsive to the first apparatus determining aresource shortage in the first apparatus, for example by determiningthat a state of resource shortage exists in the sense that the firstapparatus lacks capability to perform the at least one data processingoperation while performing other necessary tasks. Other necessary tasksmay comprise, for example, participating in sensor network communicationon sensor interconnect network 101N or capturing fresh sensor data.

In some embodiments, the first apparatus is configured to enable thesecond device to access processed sensor data subsequent to the at leastone data processing operation being applied to the sensor data toconvert the sensor data into the processed sensor data. The firstapparatus may be configured to transmit the processed sensor data to thesecond device after receiving the processed sensor data from the firstdevice. Alternatively, the first apparatus may be configured to includean identity of the second device in the message sent to the firstdevice, to cause the first device to transmit the processed sensor data,or information enabling access to the processed sensor data, to thesecond device after completing applying the at least one processingoperation on the sensor data. Alternatively, the first apparatus may beconfigured to receive a notification from the first device comprisingthe processed sensor data, or information enabling access to theprocessed sensor data. Responsive to the notification, the firstapparatus may be configured to provide to the second device theprocessed sensor data, or the information enabling access to theprocessed sensor data.

In some embodiments, at least one of the first device and the seconddevice are comprised in a mobile user device peer to peer network, or amobile cloud network.

In general there is provided a second apparatus, comprising a processorand software, the processor and software being configured to cause thesecond apparatus to at least transmit to a sensor node a request forprocessed sensor data, the request comprising an identity of a secondnode capable of processing sensor data, and to receive a messageenabling access to the processed sensor data, wherein the second node iscomprised in the same peer network as the apparatus.

In some embodiments, the second apparatus is configured to receive fromthe second node, or a further node comprised in the peer network, anindication that the second node has data processing capability that itis willing to provide. The second apparatus may be configured tomaintain information on a plurality of members of the peer network, theinformation comprising information on capabilities each member iswilling to provide. Data processing capabilities may comprise datamanipulation capabilities such as, for example, text translation, imagecompression, video resolution re-scaling, audio processing orpreparation of multimedia from separate media content, for example. Insome embodiments, data processing capabilities comprise at least one ofa data forwarding capability, such as forwarding or broadcasting to afurther node or network, and a data storage capability, such ascapability to input data into a memory. In general data manipulationinvolves transforming the content of data, while data forwarding anddata storage involve communication and storage, respectively, withouttransforming the content of the data. That a member is willing toprovide a capability may comprise that the member has an excesscapability it does not currently need itself, that it is willing toprovide to members of the peer network.

In some embodiments, peer network members are configured to share theinformation on capabilities each member is willing to provide with atleast one sensor node, such as for example a sensor node comprised in asensor network.

FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus 300 such as, for example, a sensor nodein accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention. Apparatus300 may comprise a sensor element 330 configured to produce sensor databy sensing the surroundings of apparatus 300. Sensing may comprisephysical measurement. Apparatus 300 may comprise a control element 310,which may comprise a processor, set of processors, chipset or otherintegrated circuit enabled to control functioning of apparatus 300.Apparatus 300 may comprise memory 320, which may be configured to storesensor data obtained from sensor element 330 under the direction ofcontrol element 310, for example. Apparatus 300 may comprise transceiver340 configured to enable the apparatus to communicate via communicationpath 350, which may be wire-line or wireless. By communicating,apparatus 300 may provide sensor data obtained with sensor element 330to further nodes, and apparatus 300 may receive information, such as forexample requests for sensor data.

FIG. 4 is a first flowchart illustrating operations in accordance withan example embodiment of the invention. The phases of the methodillustrated in FIG. 4 may take place in a sensor node comprised in asensor network, for example. In phase 410, sensor data is received, forexample received in a control element or memory of a sensor node from asensor element comprised in the sensor node. In phase 420, at least onedata processing operation is associated with the sensor data. Theassociating may be performed by a control element of the sensor node,for example. In phase 430, a message is caused to be transmitted to afirst device, the message comprising an identifier of at least one ofthe at least one data processing operation. The causing may be performedby a control element of the sensor node, wherein the control element maycause a transceiver comprised in the sensor node to transmit themessage.

FIG. 5 is a second flowchart illustrating operations in accordance withan example embodiment of the invention. The phases of the methodillustrated in FIG. 5 may take place in a mobile comprised in a mobilecloud, for example. In phase 510, a request for processed sensor data istransmitted to a sensor node, the request comprising an identity of asecond node capable of processing sensor data. In phase 520, a messageenabling access to the processed sensor data is received, wherein thesecond node is comprised in the same peer network as the apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 10 such as, forexample, a mobile terminal comprised in a mobile cloud, in accordancewith an example embodiment of the invention. While several features ofthe apparatus are illustrated and will be hereinafter described forpurposes of example, other types of electronic devices, such as mobiletelephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants, PDAs, pagers,laptop computers, desktop computers, gaming devices, televisions,routers, home gateways, and other types of electronic systems, mayemploy various embodiments of the invention.

As shown, the mobile terminal 10 may include at least one antenna 12 incommunication with a transmitter 14 and a receiver 16. Alternativelytransmit and receive antennas may be separate. The mobile terminal 10may also include a processor 20 configured to provide signals to andreceive signals from the transmitter and receiver, respectively, and tocontrol the functioning of the apparatus. Processor 20 may be configuredto control the functioning of the transmitter and receiver by effectingcontrol signaling via electrical leads to the transmitter and receiver.Likewise processor 20 may be configured to control other elements ofapparatus 10 by effecting control signaling via electrical leadsconnecting processor 20 to the other elements, such as for example adisplay or a memory. The processor 20 may, for example, be embodied asvarious means including circuitry, at least one processing core, one ormore microprocessors with accompanying digital signal processor(s), oneor more processor(s) without an accompanying digital signal processor,one or more coprocessors, one or more multi-core processors, one or morecontrollers, processing circuitry, one or more computers, various otherprocessing elements including integrated circuits such as, for example,an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC, or field programmablegate array, FPGA, or some combination thereof. Accordingly, althoughillustrated in FIG. 2 as a single processor, in some embodiments theprocessor 20 comprises a plurality of processors or processing cores.Signals sent and received by the processor 20 may include signalinginformation in accordance with an air interface standard of anapplicable cellular system, and/or any number of different wireline orwireless networking techniques, comprising but not limited to Wi-Fi,wireless local access network, WLAN, techniques such as Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11, 802.16, and/or thelike. In addition, these signals may include speech data, user generateddata, user requested data, and/or the like. In this regard, theapparatus may be capable of operating with one or more air interfacestandards, communication protocols, modulation types, access types,and/or the like. More particularly, the apparatus may be capable ofoperating in accordance with various first generation, 1G, secondgeneration, 2G, 2.5G, third-generation, 3G, communication protocols,fourth-generation, 4G, communication protocols, Internet ProtocolMultimedia Subsystem, IMS, communication protocols, for example, sessioninitiation protocol, SIP, and/or the like. For example, the apparatusmay be capable of operating in accordance with 2G wireless communicationprotocols IS-136, Time Division Multiple Access TDMA, Global System forMobile communications, GSM, IS-95, Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA,and/or the like. Also, for example, the mobile terminal may be capableof operating in accordance with 2.5G wireless communication protocolsGeneral Packet Radio Service. GPRS, Enhanced Data GSM Environment, EDGE,and/or the like. Further, for example, the apparatus may be capable ofoperating in accordance with 3G wireless communication protocols such asUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, Code Division MultipleAccess 2000, CDMA2000, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, WCDMA,Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access, TD-SCDMA,and/or the like. The apparatus may be additionally capable of operatingin accordance with 3.9G wireless communication protocols such as LongTerm Evolution, LTE, or Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio AccessNetwork, E-UTRAN, and/or the like. Additionally, for example, theapparatus may be capable of operating in accordance withfourth-generation, 4G, wireless communication protocols such as LTEAdvanced and/or the like as well as similar wireless communicationprotocols that may be developed in the future.

Some Narrow-band Advanced Mobile Phone System, NAMPS, as well as TotalAccess Communication System, TACS, mobile terminal apparatuses may alsobenefit from embodiments of this invention, as should dual or highermode phone apparatuses, for example, digital/analog or TDMA/CDMA/analogphones. Additionally, apparatus 10 may be capable of operating accordingto Wi-Fi or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WiMAX,protocols.

It is understood that the processor 20 may comprise circuitry forimplementing audio/video and logic functions of apparatus 10. Forexample, the processor 20 may comprise a digital signal processordevice, a microprocessor device, an analog-to-digital converter, adigital-to-analog converter, and/or the like. Control and signalprocessing functions of the mobile terminal may be allocated betweenthese devices according to their respective capabilities. The processormay additionally comprise an internal voice coder, VC, 20 a, an internaldata modem, DM, 20 b, and/or the like. Further, the processor maycomprise functionality to operate one or more software programs, whichmay be stored in memory. In general, processor 20 and stored softwareinstructions may be configured to cause apparatus 10 to perform actions.For example, processor 20 may be capable of operating a connectivityprogram, such as a web browser. The connectivity program may allow themobile terminal 10 to transmit and receive web content, such aslocation-based content, according to a protocol, such as wirelessapplication protocol, WAP, hypertext transfer protocol, HTTP, and/or thelike.

Apparatus 10 may also comprise a user interface including, for example,an earphone or speaker 24, a ringer 22, a microphone 26, a display 28, auser input interface, and/or the like, which may be operationallycoupled to the processor 20. In this regard, the processor 20 maycomprise user interface circuitry configured to control at least somefunctions of one or more elements of the user interface, such as, forexample, the speaker 24, the ringer 22, the microphone 26, the display28, and/or the like. The processor 20 and/or user interface circuitrycomprising the processor 20 may be configured to control one or morefunctions of one or more elements of the user interface through computerprogram instructions, for example, software and/or firmware, stored on amemory accessible to the processor 20, for example, volatile memory 40,non-volatile memory 42, and/or the like. Although not shown, theapparatus may comprise a battery for powering various circuits relatedto the mobile terminal, for example, a circuit to provide mechanicalvibration as a detectable output. The user input interface may comprisedevices allowing the apparatus to receive data, such as a keypad 30, atouch display, which is not shown, a joystick, which is not shown,and/or at least one other input device. In embodiments including akeypad, the keypad may comprise numeric 0-9 and related keys, and/orother keys for operating the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, apparatus 10 may also include one or more means forsharing and/or obtaining data. For example, the apparatus may comprise ashort-range radio frequency, RF, transceiver and/or interrogator 64 sodata may be shared with and/or obtained from electronic devices inaccordance with RF techniques. The apparatus may comprise othershort-range transceivers, such as, for example, an infrared, IR,transceiver 66, a Bluetooth™ BT, transceiver 68 operating usingBluetooth™ brand wireless technology developed by the Bluetooth™ SpecialInterest Group, a wireless universal serial bus, USB, transceiver 70and/or the like. The Bluetooth™ transceiver 68 may be capable ofoperating according to low power or ultra-low power Bluetooth™technology, for example, Wibree™, radio standards. In this regard, theapparatus 10 and, in particular, the short-range transceiver may becapable of transmitting data to and/or receiving data from electronicdevices within a proximity of the apparatus, such as within 10 meters,for example. Although not shown, the apparatus may be capable oftransmitting and/or receiving data from electronic devices according tovarious wireless networking techniques, including 6LoWpan, Wi-Fi, Wi-Filow power, WLAN techniques such as IEEE 802.11 techniques, IEEE 802.15techniques, IEEE 802.16 techniques, and/or the like.

The apparatus 10 may comprise memory, such as a subscriber identitymodule, SIM, 38, a removable user identity module, R-UIM, and/or thelike, which may store information elements related to a mobilesubscriber. In addition to the SIM, the apparatus may comprise otherremovable and/or fixed memory. The apparatus 10 may include volatilememory 40 and/or non-volatile memory 42. For example, volatile memory 40may include Random Access Memory, RAM, including dynamic and/or staticRAM, on-chip or off-chip cache memory, and/or the like. Non-volatilememory 42, which may be embedded and/or removable, may include, forexample, read-only memory, flash memory, magnetic storage devices, forexample, hard disks, floppy disk drives, magnetic tape, etc., opticaldisc drives and/or media, non-volatile random access memory, NVRAM,and/or the like. Like volatile memory 40 non-volatile memory 42 mayinclude a cache area for temporary storage of data. At least part of thevolatile and/or non-volatile memory may be embedded in processor 20. Thememories may store one or more software programs, instructions, piecesof information, data, and/or the like which may be used by the apparatusfor performing functions of the mobile terminal. For example, thememories may comprise an identifier, such as an international mobileequipment identification, IMEI, code, capable of uniquely identifyingapparatus 10.

Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application ofthe claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of theexample embodiments disclosed herein is that richer multimediaexperiences can be provided to mobiles. Another technical effect of oneor more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that lessresources are needed to construct sensor networks. Another technicaleffect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein isthat since sensor nodes can be made simpler, they will consume lessenergy.

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in software,hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware andapplication logic. The software, application logic and/or hardware mayreside on memory 40, the control apparatus 20 or electronic components,for example. In an example embodiment, the application logic, softwareor an instruction set is maintained on any one of various conventionalcomputer-readable media. In the context of this document, a“computer-readable medium” may be any media or means that can contain,store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer, with one example of a computer described anddepicted in FIG. 2. A computer-readable medium may comprise acomputer-readable non-transitory storage medium that may be any media ormeans that can contain or store the instructions for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device,such as a computer. The scope of the invention comprises computerprograms configured to cause methods according to embodiments of theinvention to be performed.

If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be performed ina different order and/or concurrently with each other. Furthermore, ifdesired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional ormay be combined.

Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independentclaims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations offeatures from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims withthe features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinationsexplicitly set out in the claims.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes exampleembodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed ina limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modificationswhich may be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor;and at least one memory including computer program code the at least onememory and the computer program code configured to, with the at leastone processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:originate and transmit, using a first radio access technology, to asensor node a request for processed sensor data, wherein sensor datarepresents at least one physical property of surroundings of the sensornode, the request comprising an identity of a second node, distinct fromthe apparatus and from the sensor node, capable of processing sensordata; and receive a message enabling the apparatus access to theprocessed sensor data, wherein the second node and apparatus are bothcomprised in a mobile cloud which does not comprise the sensor node,wherein the apparatus is further caused to receive from the mobile cloudan indication that the second node has data processing capability it iswilling to provide, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicatewith mobiles in the mobile cloud using a second radio access technology,and wherein the apparatus is further configured to define a sequence ofprocessing actions, such that when the processing actions comprised inthe sequence are performed in order in the mobile cloud, a correct kindof processed sensor data is produced as an output from the lastprocessing action in the sequence.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the apparatus is further caused to maintain information on aplurality of members of a peer network, the information comprisinginformation on capabilities each member is willing to provide.
 3. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information maintained on aplurality of members of the peer network enables virtualization ofavailable capabilities in the peer network.
 4. An apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the apparatus is caused to provide at least part of theinformation to the sensor node.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the message enables the apparatus to access the processed sensordata by including, in the message, the processed sensor data.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message enables theapparatus to access the processed sensor data by including, in themessage, information enabling the apparatus to fetch the processedsensor data from a server node.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the apparatus is further configured to trigger execution of thesequence by prompting the sensor node to enable a third node to accesssensor data, the third node being comprised in the mobile cloud.
 8. Amethod, comprising: originating and transmitting, from an apparatus,using a first radio access technology, to a sensor node a request forprocessed sensor data, wherein sensor data represents at least onephysical property of surroundings of the sensor node, the requestcomprising an identity of a second node, distinct from the apparatus andfrom the sensor node, capable of processing sensor data, receiving amessage enabling the apparatus access to the processed sensor data,wherein the second node and apparatus are comprised in a mobile cloudwhich does not comprise the sensor node, and wherein the apparatus isfurther caused to receive from the mobile cloud an indication that thesecond node has data processing capability it is willing to provide,wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with mobiles in themobile cloud using a second radio access technology, and defining asequence of processing actions, such that performance of the processingactions comprised in the sequence in order in the mobile cloud, producesa correct kind of processed sensor data is as an output from the lastprocessing action in the sequence.
 9. The method according to claim 8,further comprising maintaining information on a plurality of members ofa peer network, the information comprising information on capabilitieseach member is willing to provide.
 10. The method according to claim 8,wherein the apparatus is caused to provide at least part of theinformation to the sensor node.
 11. The method according to claim 8,wherein the message enables the apparatus to access the processed sensordata by including, in the message, the processed sensor data.
 12. Themethod according to claim 8, wherein the message enables the apparatusto access the processed sensor data by including, in the message,information enabling the apparatus to fetch the processed sensor datafrom a server node.
 13. The method according to claim 8, furthercomprising triggering execution of the sequence by prompting the sensornode to enable a third node to access sensor data, the third node beingcomprised in the mobile cloud.
 14. A non-transitory computer readablemedium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructionsthat, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to atleast: originate and transmit, from an apparatus, using a first radioaccess technology, to a sensor node a request for processed sensor data,wherein sensor data represents at least one physical property ofsurroundings of the sensor node, the request comprising an identity of asecond node, distinct from the apparatus and from the sensor node,capable of processing sensor data, receive a message enabling theapparatus access to the processed sensor data, wherein the second nodeand apparatus are comprised in a mobile cloud which does not comprisethe sensor node, receive from the mobile cloud an indication that thesecond node has data processing capability it is willing to provide,wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with mobiles in themobile cloud using a second radio access technology, and define asequence of processing actions, such that when the processing actionscomprised in the sequence are performed in order in the mobile cloud, acorrect kind of processed sensor data is produced as an output from thelast processing action in the sequence.